May 2011

I'm a little late with May's newsletter but by the time I was ready to sit down and write, there were ball games to go to, chickens to process and Kurt's chores to take care of. Next thing I know, we're a quarter of the way into June!

If I had to choose a word to describe May, I'd have to pick dry. We've had less than a quarter inch of rain all month. We're thankful we haven't had the severe weather the eastern half of the state has seen. We've had several storms build up and then slide right around us. When I lived in "the city," I was aware of the weather but it didn't seem to permeate my every waking thought. Any time I start to think I'm in control, all I need to do is look at the rain gauge, the neighbors' crops shriveling in the heat and wind and our grass going dormant to realize I need to let go of that illusion of control and trust in God's wisdom. Kurt and I remind each other that it WILL rain again and when it does, we'll celebrate.

June update: We did get about six tenths over Memorial Day weekend - not enough to help the grass significantly but it was good to hear it rain again.

This weekend, Kurt had the opportunity to talk with other graziers and his attitude about moisture changed a little. We live in a dry climate; getting only about 20 inches of precipitation a year. Compared to the people Kurt talked to from places like Mexico, Eastern Colorado, Hawaii, we've got it good. Some of them average 8-10 inches/year and only get moisture about 3 months/year. While this doesn't change the fact that it's dry here, it does make us a little more thankful for the comparatively "lush" conditions we live in.

With the dry weather, I expect the grasshoppers to be bad again this summer. I hope we're ready with our grasshopper eating turkeys. We still have to figure out how to pen them and use them effectively but I'm optimistic.

A good part of the last 3 weeks has been spent at the ball field either practicing or playing games. Allison is playing softball this year with the big girls and enjoying it. They're a young team but will learn lots this season. Natalie's playing her second year of t-ball and loving it. On the mornings of her games, I hear, "How many more hours 'til my game?" It's been fun to watch her grow as an "athlete." She has even given us very specific directions on how to cheer. We're not supposed to use her name (??) but can use her number (Anna cheers "go big 3, goooo big 3!") AND Kurt is NOT allowed to give her two thumbs us with a cheesy grin. As much as we've enjoyed the games, we are very thankful that ball season is only one month long.

School has been out for about 2 weeks and so far I haven't heard too many complaints about being bored - I think they're afraid I'll put them to work.

Natalie is getting to be such a big kid. She brought home her journal from school and it was filled with all kinds of wonderful writing! An example from May 15: I went to my cusin Tillre grajuashine. We got ice kreme cake. Can you translate? We're going to miss Mrs. Jackson so much!

Allison had her braces put on the day before school was out and I think she is past the initial pain. I think the worst part of the whole ordeal was the nasty taste of the cement!

Anna is so glad to have her sisters home although sometimes she has a strange way of showing how much she cares.

I think DFF might have a future as a B&B. We've had company for a full week. It was great! My mom was here for several days and the girls enjoyed some good time with Grandma. Unfortunately, she was fighting a cold and didn't feel great. Too bad she couldn't borrow some of the girls' energy. Mom left on Monday and on Tuesday, my good friend Jennifer and her son Adam came to help out. They not only helped out with chicken processing (a highlight of the trip for Adam) but Jennifer helped me juggle kids, household duties and chores while Kurt was in Colorado. Everyone needs to have a friend like this. I only hope she thinks I'm half as helpful as she is! To celebrate our successes (getting everywhere we needed to and no major meltdowns on the farm), we made donuts from scratch on their last morning - come to find out it was also National Donut Day. I couldn't have planned it any better!

Our first chicken processing was a success and we had lots of great help. If you have an interest in helping, let me know - we'd love to have you! There's always good fellowship, it's not at all gruesome, and we never ask anyone to do a job they're not comfortable with.

We will also be processing on June 15th and 30th, July 14th, September 22nd, and October 6th. If you'd like to reserve whole or cut up chickens, let me know ASAP and we'll make sure to reserve them for you. They are first come, first served and the price goes up $.50/pound after the end of the season in October because we have to store them.

My soapmaking is going well. I've had several successful batches. Although, my production has come to a stand still since school got. Since lye is used in the saponification process, I really don't want any helpers around. So. . . if I want the kitchen to myself right now, it has to happen between 9 pm and 6 am. Not exactly when my brain function is at it's best. I was pretty excited - I sold 4 bars of my Savon Saindoux soap at the farmers' market. Our pastor, who is fluent in French, helped me name the soap. See if you can find the meaning.

We are participating in the farmers' market in Coldwater this summer. It's so nice to have a short drive! We've been open two weeks and while we are still small with only 2-3 vendors, we've been pleased with response from the county. We're hopeful that as gardens start producing, we'll have more vendors. We've been taking a small selection of our meats, some baked goods and soap. I'm also willing to take orders and deliver them at the market.

I'm about to pick up our spring beef and we will have ground beef and steaks in stock again. I'll be through Greensburg, Pratt, Hutchinson, McPherson and Lindsborg on June 13th if you'd like to place an order. I'll also be going to Wichita on June 17th.

If you know you are interested in a quarter, half or whole beef or a hog in the fall, let me know and I'll add your name to "the list." Again, bulk beef and pork will be first come, first served based on availability.

Kurt and I don't have much time to "date" in the late spring/early summer between chores, chickens, children and ball (I know this doesn't fit the alliteration but I couldn't find a "c" word for ball games!). We do know that we need to find a little time to visit without interruptions. Now that the girls are a little bigger, we've started taking short 4-wheeler rides to check cattle on Sunday afternoons. They're not very long but it's a nice chance to spend some time together.

Usually towards the end of my newsletter, I give family updates. I think I've already done that so I'll update you on our animals. Calving is pretty much done for the year. Any cow left to calve will probably go to the sale barn. Otherwise, we'd have some very small calves next spring and the cow wouldn't be ready to breed back with her herd mates. We also need to destock some now because there's just not enough grass growing to feed 140 cow/calf pairs.

We had a rough patch with one of our sows - she lost all her piglets. We think it may have been due to feed high in nitrates. She seems to be doing fine but it was a tough loss for us.

The goats are growing nicely and Allison's two show goats behaved nicely at the spring livestock show. Whew! We were hoping that they would cooperate in the ring.

Our new puppy, K.Z. is growing by the minute. Other than needing to learn a few more manners, she seems to be a good addition to our menagerie.

I referenced this several times in this month's epistle (I've always wanted to use that in a sentence!) but Kurt and a neighbor went to LaJunta, Co for a grazing conference. I tried to call it a workshop and was quickly corrected. Apparently, teachers go to workshops, farmer/ranchers go to conferences. Workshop/conference, whatever you want to call it, Kurt learned a lot. He enjoyed the chance to visit with others doing the same type of things. Ian Mitchell-Innes was the featured speaker. Google him and you can find out a lot about his work in South Africa. While Kurt was gone, I took over most of the livestock - everything but the cattle. I tell you what, hauling water to chickens in 100 degree weather is almost a full-time job. I learned very quickly that I don't have the upper body strength to lift a 5-gallon bucketful of water four feet off the ground. I quickly adjusted Kurt's methods that required brute force to something that would work for me. I'm still sore! Overall, everything went well except one night when. . .

1. I took down part of the hot wire fence with the 4-wheeler.
2. I had to ask my 10-year-old daughter to help me fix the fence 'cause I wasn't sure how to hook on the insulators.
3. My 10-year-old was wounded on the job by a devil's claw - a nasty weed.
4. I forgot to plug in said fence until much, much later. Thankfully, nothing got out.
5. Two turkeys escaped.
6. I had to enlist my 10-year-old again to catch the turkeys.
7. The 4-wheeler died several times for unexplained reasons. I didn't have to ask A for help but did let her drive a little while as a way to say thanks!
8. I lost two full buckets off the back of the 4-wheeler cart and had to refill them.
9. I bruised my thumb.
10. I know something else went wrong and a list ought to have 10 items but I can't for the life of me remember what it might be.

All is right in our world again though. Kurt is home and we're back to doing our own jobs - woohoo! I'd rather feed kids than chickens any time!

Hope you find relief from the heat.

Andi